He tossed the morsel to and fro, and licked it on the sand.
And ever as the mastiff tore, his bloody teeth were shown,
With growl and snort he made his sport, and picked it to the bone!
The baying of the beast was loud; and swiftly on the street
There gathered round a gaping crowd to see the mastiff eat.
Then out and spake King Pedro—“What governance is this?
The rabble rout the gate without torment my dogs, I wiss.”
Then out and spake King Pedro’s page—“It is the master’s head,
The mastiff tears it in his rage, therewith they have him fed.”
Then out and spake the ancient nurse, that nursed the brothers twain—